English Woodland Funding

There will be limited grant availability for English woodlands during 2014 as a result of the transition to the new Rural Development Programme.  The Forestry Commission has just published new guidance on funding – http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/England-ON029-v1.0.pdf/$FILE/England-ON029-v1.0.pdf.  In summary, Woodland Creation Grants and Woodland Management Grants are now closed until the new RDPE is approved.  However, £6m of funding will be made available to approve woodland planting applications that are already in the pipeline.  DEFRA claims this will produce two thousand hectares of new woodland.  Woodland Regeneration, Woodland Improvement, and Woodfuel grants will all continue to remain open for applications until September 2014.  Around £24m has been earmarked for this.